• Foley & Lardner attorney Bob Rhodes has been named the chair of the Northeast Florida Advisory Council of the Trust for Public Land, a statewide initiative aimed at both land preservation and environmentally-sensitive development. Rhodes has been on the Council for five years and succeeds CB Richard Ellis managing director Jim Citrano. Joining the Council is John Schultz, CEO of The Schultz Companies, a Jacksonville real estate and development company.
• There isn’t a military emergency, but there are plenty of members of the armed forces in town. Patton Park on Hodges Boulevard is hosting the Armed Forces Soccer Tournament featuring teams from the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. Matches started Wednesday and run through today.
• The Gator Bowl Association will formally thank its volunteers with a big bash Feb. 1 at Adventure Landing on Beach Boulevard. The party is free for volunteers who worked the Toyota Gator Bowl and the Dr Pepper ACC Championship. Attendees may bring guests for $30 each.
• U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has been appointed chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.
• Speaking of Brown, Wednesday she voted in favor of a bill that would reduce the interest rate on subsidized student loans for college undergraduates over the next five years. The bill aims to lower the interest rate from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent.
• The Historic Preservation Commission is asking permission to move its meetings from the Renaissance Room at City Hall to City Council Chambers. The Commission has recently finished putting its guidebook on CD-ROM, and the Chambers would allow members to view the book digitally.
• The new face behind the reception desk in the mayor’s office is Tenisha Williams. She’s replacing Iris Corbitt who is now working for mayoral staffers Lisa R. Rinaman and Sherry Hall.
• Looking to help save some strays? Nonprofit organization First Coast No More Homeless Pets needs volunteers to help spread the word about its spay/neuter and pet adoption programs at upcoming events. See www.fcnmhp.org for more information on the organization and how to volunteer or adopt.